If you want to distinguish your goods, services (or both) from those of another business, you may need a trade mark. Find out what trade marks are and what’s involved in the application and management process.

If you are a self filer, attorney or a Qualified Person (QP) –this is the place to find our examination manuals, FAQs, case studies, search tools and more to help you further understand and research intellectual property.

copyright protection applies automatically, but in order to licence or enforce your copyright it needs to be registered through the National Copyright Administration.

IP Counsellor to China

To assist Australian business navigate the Chinese IP system, we appointed David Bennett as the IP Counsellor to China. David assists Australian businesses navigate IP issues with regards to patents, trade marks, designs and copyright. David also engages with the Chinese Government on IP policy.

Enforcing your rights in China

A number of different government agencies are involved at state and provincial levels. If you have a problem about the protection of your IP rights it can be difficult to know which agency handles your complaint. Your best option is to seek specialist legal advice.

Under administrative enforcement you present evidence of the infringement to local authorities who can conduct raids, seize infringing goods and issue fines.

Civil enforcement remedies are like those available in Australia where courts can issue injunctions and award damages.

Chinese customs can also seize shipments of infringing goods before they leave China’s border.

The Chinese Government has taken steps to make it easier to address enforcement issues by establishing more than 50 IP rights service centres around the country.

More information

Please note, IP registration and protection can be a complex process, especially in an international context. It is recommended that you seek advice from an IP professional.If you're thinking about entering the Chinese market make sure you understand the trade mark application processes.

We encourage you to read through all of our IP protection in China resources before getting in touch, however if you need further guidance on protecting your IP in China you can contact us via this form. Please note: this form is specifically for China related questions. Please use our Contact Us form for any other questions.